GAME SUMMARY:
Hayward Wolfpack FC found themselves without an opponent this past Sunday, after WPASL opponent Spartan FC forfeited due to low player numbers (Wolfpack were awarded a 3-0 win). OPOPO United FC, a soccer club based out of Grand Rapids, MN, were willing to make the trip to play the Pack. The first half was quite competitive, with chances on both ends of the pitch. The Lions were able to break through first when All-Range Player of the Year Drogba Njimegni capitalized on a penalty kick in the 29th minute. The game picked up intensity, and the Hayward squad were finally able to even the score when Isaiah Heyworth, back for his first game of the season, scored a scorcher off of a pass to the top of the box by King Strum in the 44th minute.
The second half was completely dominated by the Wolfpack. Siji Gonzalez started the onslaught of goals in the 54th minute off of a perfect through ball from Yabkal Demelash. The Wolfpack's leading scorer, Mally Lumsden, then decided to get in on the action, scoring four consecutive goals in a span of 11 minutes to seal the fate of the game, with two assists going to Wolfpack trialist Arseno Hamilton and one to Heyworth. The Lions found a way to pull a goal back when Hayward-native Ethan Wolfe, filling in as a substitute, assisted a goal scored by Klayton Silver. Lumsden added his fifth goal of the night, assisted by Gonzalez, in the 81st minute. Hamilton finished off the scoring with two goals, the first a chip-shot from 40 yards out in the 86th minute, and the second a smoothly finished cross-in by Mark Fehringer in the 90th minute. Goalkeeper Dru Senich finished the game with 4 saves and the Wolfpack outshot the Lions 18-6.
BOX SCORE:
5-22/Hayward Intermediate/Friendly
Hayward Wolfpack FC......................................1 8 -9
OPOPO United FC............................................1 1 -2
First Half - OUFC - Drogba Njimegni (PK) 29'; HWFC - Isaiah Heyworth (King Strum) 44'
Second Half - HWFC - Siji Gonzalez (Yabkal Demelash) 54'; HWFC - Mally Lumsden (Arseno Hamilton) 64'; HWFC - Lumsden (Hamilton) 68'; HWFC - Lumsden (Unassisted) 70'; HWFC - Lumsden (Heyworth) 75'; OUFC - Klayton Silver (Ethan Wolfe) 78'; HWFC - Lumsden (Gonzalez) 81'; HWFC - Hamilton (Unassisted) 86; HWFC - Hamilton (Fehringer) 90'
Saves: HWFC - Dru Senich (4 saves); OUFC - Payton Forer (9 saves)
LOOKING AHEAD:
The Wolfpack will face Portside FC in a friendly match on Thursday, May 26th. The match kicks off at 6pm, and will be played in Duluth, MN (Field options are still being evaluated).
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